How to Change Your Printer's IP Address

Why and when to change your printer's IP address

Your printer gets an IP address automatically when it connects to your network, but that address can change on its own if your router restarts or if your printer loses connection. If your printer stops printing or you need it to work on a different network, changing the IP address manually gives you control over where it sits on your network. You might also change it to give your printer a fixed address so it stays reachable from all your devices.

Most home printers use one of two methods: you can set a static IP address directly on the printer itself, or you can reserve an address in your router so the printer always gets the same one. The printer method is more reliable because the address stays fixed even if you move the printer to a different network later.

Key Takeaways

You can change your printer's IP address through its control panel, web interface, or router settings, depending on your printer model.
Setting a static IP address on the printer itself is more reliable than relying on your router to assign the same address each time.
You will need your printer's current IP address, which you can find by printing a network status page or checking your router's device list.
After changing the IP address, you may need to remove and re-add the printer in your computer's printer settings so it can find the new address.
If your printer uses DHCP (automatic addressing), write down the new static IP before you change it, or you may lose track of where the printer is on your network.

Find your printer's current IP address

Before you change anything, you need to know what address your printer currently has. The fastest way is to print a network status page directly from the printer. On most printers, hold down the Settings or Menu button on the control panel for three to five seconds until a menu appears, then look for Network Settings, Network Status, or Information. Select Print Network Status or Print Configuration Page. The page that prints will show your printer's current IP address, usually labeled as "IP Address" or "IPv4 Address".

If your printer does not have a control panel or the menu does not work, check your router instead. Log into your router by opening a web browser and typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar (the exact address is usually printed on the router itself). Enter your router's username and password, then look for a section called Connected Devices, Device List, or DHCP Clients. Find your printer's name in the list — it usually includes the brand name or model number — and the IP address will be shown next to it.

Change the IP address through your printer's control panel

Most printers let you set a static IP address directly from the Settings menu. Press Settings or Menu on your printer's control panel, then navigate to Network Settings or TCP/IP Settings. Look for an option called IP Address Mode, DHCP, or Obtain IP Address Automatically. Change this from DHCP or Automatic to Static or Manual.

Once you switch to static mode, the printer will show you fields for IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway. Use the arrow buttons and number pad to enter the new address. A safe choice for a home network is to keep the first three numbers the same as your current address (usually 192.168.1 or 192.168.0) and change only the last number to something between 100 and 200 — for example, if your current address is 192.168.1.50, you could change it to 192.168.1.150. The Subnet Mask should stay as 255.255.255.0, and the Gateway should match your router's address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). After you enter all the numbers, select Save or explore, and the printer will restart with the new address.

Change the IP address through the printer's web interface

If your printer has a web interface, you can change the IP address from any computer on the network. Open a web browser and type your printer's current IP address into the address bar — for example, http://192.168.1.50. You will see a login page; enter the printer's username and password (often both are "admin" or "root" unless you changed them). Once logged in, look for a section called Network, TCP/IP, or Settings.

Find the option for DHCP or Obtain IP Address Automatically and turn it off. Then enter your new static IP address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway in the same way you would on the control panel. Save the changes, and the printer will restart. After it comes back online, type the new IP address into your browser to confirm the change worked.

Reserve an IP address in your router instead

If you do not want to change settings on the printer itself, you can tell your router to always give your printer the same address. This is called DHCP reservation or static DHCP. Log into your router using the same method as before (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), then look for a section called DHCP Settings, Reserved Addresses, Address Reservation, or Static DHCP.

You will need your printer's MAC address, which is a unique identifier for the device. Find it by printing a network status page from the printer, or by looking in your router's device list — the MAC address is usually shown next to the printer's name and looks like six pairs of letters and numbers separated by colons, such as 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. In the router's reservation section, enter the MAC address and the IP address you want the printer to use, then save. From now on, your router will always assign that address to your printer when it connects.

Remove and re-add the printer after changing the address

After you change the IP address, your computer may still try to reach the printer at the old address and fail. The easiest fix is to remove the printer from your computer's printer list and add it again so it can discover the new address. On Windows, go to Settings, then Devices, then Printers and Scanners. Find your printer in the list, click it, and select Remove. On Mac, go to System Preferences, then Printers and Scanners, click your printer, and select the minus button.

Once you have removed it, add the printer back. On Windows, click the plus button next to "Add a printer or scanner" and wait for your printer to appear in the list. On Mac, click the plus button, select your printer from the list, and click Add. Your computer will now connect to the printer using its new IP address. If the printer does not appear in the list, make sure it is turned on and connected to the same network as your computer.

Troubleshoot if the printer does not respond after changing the address

If you set a static IP address but the printer stops responding, the most common cause is a conflict with another device on the network that was assigned the same address. To fix this, go back to the printer's control panel or web interface and change the last number of the IP address to something else — for example, change 192.168.1.150 to 192.168.1.151. If you cannot reach the printer through its web interface anymore, you may need to reset it to factory settings. Most printers have a Reset button on the back or inside the paper tray; hold it down for ten seconds while the printer is on, and it will return to automatic addressing.

If you reserved an address in your router but the printer still does not work, check that you entered the MAC address correctly. The easiest way to verify is to look at the network status page again and compare the MAC address printed there with what you entered in the router. If they do not match exactly, edit the reservation and correct the address.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between static IP and DHCP?

DHCP means your printer asks the router for an address each time it connects, and the router assigns one automatically — this address can change. Static means you set one address on the printer and it never changes. Static is better if you want the printer to stay reachable at the same address all the time.

Can I use any IP address I want?

No. Your address must match your network's range. If your router uses 192.168.1.x, your printer must use 192.168.1 followed by a number between 1 and 254. The last number should not be 1 (usually the router) or 255 (broadcast address). Avoid numbers below 50 because your router may assign those automatically to other devices.

Do I need to change the printer's password when I change the IP address?

No. The IP address and password are separate. Changing the address does not affect the password. If you want to change the password for security, you can do that through the printer's web interface or control panel, but it is not required when you change the address.

What happens if two devices get the same IP address?

Both devices will have trouble connecting to the network, and printing will fail. This is called an IP conflict. If it happens, change the printer's address to a different number, or reset the printer to factory settings and let the router assign an address automatically.

Will changing the IP address erase my printer settings?

No. Changing the IP address only changes where the printer sits on the network. Your print quality settings, paper size defaults, and other configurations stay the same.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.